10 December 1999
1999 Australian Human Rights Medals and Awards winners
The winners of the 1999 Human Rights Medal and Awards were announced at a ceremony starting at 12 noon on Friday 10 December at the Inter-Continental Hotel in Sydney. Speakers include the Attorney-General the Hon Daryl Williams and film maker Paul Cox.
Human Rights Medal
Helen Bayes, founder and National Coordinator of Defence for Children International in Australia, has been awarded the 1999 Human Rights Medal in recognition of her outstanding contribution to promoting and protecting Human Rights. Working on issues including child labour, juvenile justice, sexual exploitation and effective laws to end all forms of violence towards children, the judges commended Ms Bayes for her capacity and energy in bringing to the notice of Australians the standard by which we can assess our treatment of all our children.
The Rev Dr Christopher Newell of Tasmania has been commended for his work in the disability area.
Human Rights Youth Medal
Homebush Boys High School Captain Prashanth Shanmugan is the winner of the inaugural Human Rights Youth Medal for his energetic campaign to promote multiculturalism and his initiative in establishing a community awareness program entitled The Australian Vision: 2020 with Strathfield Council.
Law
The inaugural Law Award, sponsored by the Law Council of Australia goes to the Public Interest Advocacy Centre of Sydney.
Community
The winner is The National Children's and Youth Law Centre.
Highly commended were Bourke Public School for its innovative learning programs, and the Ngaanyatjarra Pitjantjatjara Yakunytjatjara (NPY) Women's Council for its programs on language education, alcohol abuse and unemployment.
Corporate
Queensland Health has been awarded the Corporate Award for its 1999 100% IN CONTROL Croc Eisteddfod - an innovative and pro-active approach tackling alcohol, tobacco and other drug issues in remote communities.
Arts
Henry Reynolds is the winner of the Arts Award for Why Weren't We Told? A personal search for the truth about Australian history.
Highly commended were Leah Purcell and Scott Rankin, for Box the Pony; and Dr Ruby Langford Ginibi, for Haunted by the Past.
Print media
The Age Newspaper has once again won the print media category, this year with Terminal Neglect, a special report on young people in nursing homes by Julie-Anne Davies and Bill Birnbauer.
Highly commended were Kate Cole-Adams, The Age for Awakenings; and Janet Hawley and David Leser, The Good Weekend for various articles.
Radio
Chris Bullock and Dai Le of ABC Radio's Background Briefing program are the winners of the radio category for their program A Foreign Student's Story: A Cautionary Tale.
Highly commended were Brent Clough and Steven Tilley, Radio Eye ABC for White Way; and Justine Lees, PoeticA, ABC Radio for The Top Paddock.
Television
Helen Dalley and Paul Steindl of Sunday on Channel 9 have won the Television Award for Solutions for a Secret Shame. This controversial and complex story about domestic violence in Indigenous communities focussed on community-initiated responses and highlighted the power of ordinary people in creating positive social change.
Highly commended were John Millard and Wendy Twibill, Australian Story ABC TV for Every Breath You Take; and Peter George and Lisa McGregor, Four Corners ABC TV for Double Jeopardy.
The Human Rights Medals and Awards were established by the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission in 1987 to recognise those individuals and organisations that have made a significant contribution to the promotion and protection of human rights in Australia.
Last updated 2 December 2001.
